Two major events took place in the art world this weekend. As joy and sorrow often come together, it's not surprising to learn that one event is considered tragic while the other is considered a triumph. The tragedy happened on Sunday night at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris during an annual street festival; a group of drunken people broke into the museum Sunday and punched a hole in the painting "Le Pont d'Argenteuil" by Claude Monet. No arrests have been made, and despite the fact that the tear is repairable, French museum authorities are a little shaken by the incident and at how easily the vandals gained access to the museum.
The triumph came in the form of a recovered painting. "Madonna with the Yarnwinder", done in Leonardo da Vinci's workshop between 1501-1507, had been stolen from a private collection about four years ago. The painting was recovered Thursday in a sting operation by police in Glasgow; four arrests were made. The painting will be examined and restored, but the plan is to put it back on display in the family's collection as soon as possible.
